F&N Spreads CNY Joy to Underprivileged Students

Sabah — Inspired by a famous Chinese proverb that encourages us to help others in need in order to find happiness in our own lives, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB) employees from the Group’s regional office in Kota Kinabalu welcomed the Year of the Rat by organising an early Chinese New Year celebration with underprivileged students from their respective region.

The 70 boarders at San Damiano Girls Hostel in Kiulu were all in high spirits as they greeted 14 F&NHB volunteers when they visited the hostel to ring in the Chinese New Year festivity. Led by Bryan Lee, Director of F&NHB Domestic Commercial Operations (East Malaysia & Brunei), the girls performed a welcome song entitled, “Today I Am Happy” to show their gratitude to the F&NHB employees for taking the time to visit them during the festive season.

Bryan Lee said that the activity exemplifies the Group’s desire to further push its unwavering commitment towards making meaningful contributions in local communities.

“Our employees are always actively organising corporate social responsibility projects throughout the country to enhance the quality of life in the communities where we operate and serve.
We organise community activities every chance that we get but nothing makes us happier than bringing the joy of the festive season to life for the less fortunate as we believe that everyone should be able to celebrate the good times together, regardless of their financial situation or family background.

“Active volunteering is a fun way for our colleagues to express their values and passions to build a better world by helping the less fortunate and disadvantaged. The visit to the San Damiano Girls Hostel gives our colleagues the opportunity to create meaningful connections with the communities while paying it forward. We hope that our celebration with the boarders will mark a cheerful beginning for the new year,” he added.

During the Chinese New Year celebration, F&NHB staff mingled with the boarders and contributed daily necessities comprising rice, oil, biscuits, grocery items, condensed milk and school stationery to the hostel. The boarders also received ang paus and mandarin oranges from Bryan Lee and the F&NHB senior management as a symbol of happiness and blessings.

The warden-in-charge of the San Damiano Girls Hostel, Sister Jane Sandalun could not contain her delight after spending the afternoon with the F&NHB volunteers and receiving the contributions on behalf of the boarders at the hostel. “Most of the boarders here hail from poor families, some even come from single-parent households. We do our best to lessen the burden of these families by providing the girls with food, shelter and other necessities that they need. A lot of times, we run low on them, that is why I am truly grateful to have received these gifts from F&NHB.

“We feel blessed to have been able to spend the joyous occasion with the volunteers. Everyone was so caring towards the girls and even spent time listening to their personal stories and struggles. Giving them an ang pau each definitely made them even happier. It is not often that they have extra money to spend on themselves. I would like to thank the F&NHB employees for spending time with us and we look forward to more celebrations with them in the future,” she stated.

Since opening its doors in 1991 by the Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Concept (FSIC), San Damiano Girls Hostel in Kiulu has catered to hundreds of girls from far-away villages to receive better care and access to education. Without the hostel, the girls, aged 13 to 19, would have to walk for many hours each day just so that they could attend classes at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Fuad.